Notebook: Inspirational stories unfold at Leland, Wilcox

Leland’s Nick Murtha, shown here dribbling in last season’s CCS Division II final against Los Altos, returned to the court Friday night after battling brain cancer. (Photo by Cathy Gerth for SVCN)

James Kelbert scored 26 points to lead Leland to a 73-40 victory over Santa Teresa on Friday night, but the story of the game was Kelbert’s teammate, guard Nick Murtha, who made a triumphant return to the court after fighting brain cancer through the summer and fall.

“It was awesome,” Leland coach Drew Marino said. “The game situation worked out perfect for us. All the student section is wearing shirts with Murtha 10 on the back, It was a great atmosphere.”

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, and the initial outlook was grim. But the senior got some good news in the middle of August — pathology reports showed that the tumor was curable — and he spent the fall undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Now, he is back with his team.

“All the doctors were all super optimistic that we’re done with everything, and I can return to playing sports and just getting back to my normal life,” Murtha said two weeks ago.

The support for Murtha has been overwhelming.

Steve Seandel, Leland’s basketball coach from 2007 through last season, helped home school Murtha. A Circle of Love fundraising webpage raised more than $42,000 to help pay medical costs. His teammates wear warm-up shirts all with the same number, Murtha’s No. 10.

“Just to see him make that fight and just do everything that he can to stay alive, it shows so much about his character and the community around him,” Kelbert said. “Everyone has rallied and supported and been there for him. It’s just been one great coming together as a community and as a family, especially for the basketball team.”

Wilcox fundraiser

Wilcox brought attention before its victory over Fremont on Friday night to a fundraiser for a cancer-stricken single mother whose twins were planning to play for the Chargers this season but instead took the season off to care for their mom.

We are hearing that around $5,000 has been raised in the past two days, which is great news for Franchon and Deshawn Butler and their mother, Shantee, and the ordeal they have gone through as Shantee fights Stage 4 lung cancer.